Dispenser or similar discharging container

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a dispenser or similar discharging container, particularly for tablets or similar bulk material ( 3 ), having a housing ( 1 ) and a gate ( 2 ) disposed in the housing ( 1 ) in a movable fashion, a dispensing opening ( 4 ) for individual pieces of material ( 3 ) being released by activating the gate ( 2 ), and a ramp ( 9 ) for conducting the material ( 3 ) in the direction of the dispensing opening ( 4 ) being established on part of the dispenser  92 ), wherein the dispenser is characterized in that the ramp ( 9 ) is movable relative to the part ( 2 ) of the dispenser for changing the position of the material ( 3 ).

The present invention concerns a dispenser or similar dischargingcontainer, in particular for tablets or such an individual item piecesand with a housing and a pusher movably disposed in the housing, inwhich a discharge opening for individual items can be released duringthe operation of the pusher, and in which a ramp is affixed to guide theitem in the direction of the discharge opening at one part of thedispenser.

With an object according to the specification of claim 1, a so-calledbridge formation occasionally occurs with individual items, for instancesweetener tablets. The individual tablets or other item pieces then pileup at or on the ramp and at other parts of the dispenser, so that supplyto the discharge opening is blocked. No isolation takes place, andremoval through the discharge opening is not possible. The user has thenoperated the dispenser by hand, for example, in vain and has to shake itor tap against it, the permanent integrity of the dispenser has beencompromised, and the items contained therein may be damaged. In thefollowing, a supply means is understood to be a ramp for tablets orsimilar, especially items capable of rolling down the ramp in thedirection of the discharge opening.

It is therefore the task of the present invention to improve a dispenserwith respect to supplying the items, preferably those capable of rollingtoward the discharge opening.

The task is accomplished by an object according to the specification ofclaim 1, which is further developed based on the part identified.

The ramp leading or guiding the foodstuff to the discharge opening isconstructed to be movable against the part of the dispenser to which itis affixed, in order to effect by its action the positioning of theindividual item pieces or the tablets and to cause them to changeposition. The item piece, which can be mutually blocked at or on theramp to the discharge opening, destroys the bridge built up by changingposition, and isolation can proceed further as a result. By moving theramp, in particular by pivoting, the tablets are preferably partiallyraised or pushed to the side, so that a new ordering can arise to takeup the initial position on the ramp. If the ramp restricts the dispenserreservoir from supplying the item, the dimensions of the reservoir arealtered by moving the ramp during or after operating the dispenser. Themovement of the ramp, a pivoting movement, for example, is preferablyeffected with a pusher, whose movement during or after operating thedispenser is transferrable directly or indirectly to the ramp.

The ramp is preferably made flexible, for instance out of a flexibleplastic bar.

Particularly advantageous is a ramp construction as a part of thepusher, which is movably disposed in the housing to operate thedispenser, as a result of which the ramp can be constructed as a movablepart, preferably integral with this dispenser. Ramp and dispenser canthus be manufactured as a single piece and can then be installed in thehousing.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the ramp is part of thehousing and can be moved past by moving the dispenser, for example. Alsowithin the scope of the invention, a two-part ramp, which is partially apart of the pusher and also a part of the housing, is provided, in orderto be able to take the distinctive constructive features of a respectivedispenser into consideration.

The introduction of force at the ramp occurs in an advantageous mannerusing a dispenser catch, also movable. The ramp is consequently notmoved or is only moved through the operation of the dispenserexclusively or through the movement of the pusher by moving directlyagainst a stationary ledge, an edge, or such, but it can be moved by apart which is itself movably disposed. Operation of the dispenser, and athereupon concomitant movement of the pusher, is translated by thecatch, as a result of which the movement of the ramp can be deliberatelycontrolled and is, for example, moderated compared with the totalmovement of the pusher.

For this, it is possible, for example, to modify the movement of theramp using an energy reservoir after operating the dispenser. In aparticularly advantageous embodiment of the dispenser, the catch isconstructed as a spring, which again produces the same initial stateafter manual operation of the dispenser. The spring is consequentlymoved upon operating the dispenser, whereby a change in position by theindividual parts of the spring is brought about relative to the otherparts of the dispenser. Using the spring parts and their change inposition, movement of the ramp can be controlled, in which the movementof the spring is transferred to the respective desired site on the ramp.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the ramp isflexibly constructed. This, then, can serve as an additional energyreservoir and can support the return of the dispenser to its initialstate before operation. For instance, ramps can operate in a catchconstruction as springs and springs can operate as double springs.

It is advantageous, in addition, if the spring is fitted with a bulge,using which can improve the

-   introduction of force at the ramp. The bulge is preferably    integrally constructed with the spring as a plastic tip part.

In order to be able to deliberately transfer a movement from a catch tothe ramp, it is advantageously provided with a support appendage, whichpreferably operates together with the catch. Alternatively, it can alsobe provided that the support appendage is provided as a support elementrather than another means of transmitting pressure.

The support appendage is in particular constructed flexibly, as a resultof which the relative movement of the ramp relative to a stationarypart, for example, can be better transmitted, since the supportappendage can be lined up during ramp movement, so that squeaking, forinstance, can be prevented by slipping the ramp onto a part of thehousing. It is especially advantageous here to provide the supportappendage with a tip, whereby force is transmitted over only a smallsurface area to the ramp. It also lies within the scope of the inventionto connect the ramp and a spring firmly to one another by means of aflexible or rigid support appendage, so that upon moving the spring, theramp is always moved in correspondence with the linkage through thesupport appendage.

In order to be able to guarantee flexibility in the materials used,these are advantageously manufactured from a polyformaldehyde orpolyoxymethylene, called POM for short. POM exhibits a high stiffness,low wear, and an accentuated recorded dimensional stability.

The ramp is advantageously disposed in a lower area of the dispenser infront of the isolating chamber.

Furthermore, the pusher is connected to a projection in an advantageous[embodiment] of the invention by means of a pre-determined breakage tab,which presses against an edge of the housing upon operating the pusher.Preferably, this involves an upper edge of the housing. If theprojection is separated by means of the breakage tab when operating thepusher, due to pressing on the edge of the housing, this is anindication of the dispenser having been used and of a loss of integrity.Preferably, the projection is set back from the edge of the dispenserand thus makes a slight operation of the dispenser possible, allowingmovability of the pusher. This often occurs with piling up in thedispenser. The dispenser according to the invention consequently alsopreserves its integrity during a pile-up. Only a short distance fromprojection to edge is needed for this, which can be selected dependingon how large the loading of the pusher is during pile-up. The distanceis hereby chosen such that it is not necessary to operate the pusher toremove tablets or such item pieces, and at the same time, springs of thepusher, if available, prevent further operation of the pusher in thehousing. Advantageously, the distance of the projection to the edge isat least 0.5 mm, and 1 mm is particularly advantageous.

Further advantages and particulars of the invention may be deduced fromthe following description of the schematic illustrations in the figures.

Shown are:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section through a dispenser according to theinvention in the unoperated position.

FIG. 2 is the object according to FIG. 1 in an operated position.

FIGS. 3-7 are partial sections of further embodiment example.

Identically or similarly operating parts are numbered identically in thefollowing, as an aid.

FIG. 1 discloses a dispenser according to the invention constructed as asweetener dispenser, with a housing 1, in which a pusher 2 is installed.In a lower area of the dispenser, several tablets 3 are seen, whichcannot be individually discharged through a discharge opening 4 due tothe bridge formation indicated. Customarily, isolation occurs here bytaking a single tablet 3 into an isolating chamber 6, which thus passesover a bar 7 and causes a shift in the pusher in direction A fromreservoir 8.

From the reservoir 8, the tablets 3 to be isolated are guided over aramp 9 in the direction of the discharge opening 4. The ramp 9 isconnected integrally with the pusher 2 and thus can be manufactured as atip part in a work step. At its bottom in back, a spring or a springelement 11, which is depicted in the representation as having passed inits extension without restriction through a floor or a lower wall 12 ofthe housing 1, is, after introduction into the housing 1, in the initialposition, depicted by dashed lines.

Advantageously, the ramp 9, which is flexibly constructed, is movabledown as far as possible relative to the pusher 2, using the nose 13 ofthe pusher, thus ensuring a resultant inadvertent expansion of thereservoir 8.

Two bulges 14 on the spring element 11 serve to capture the tip 16 of asupport appendage 17 of the ramp 9.

The pusher 2, which has two bars 19 on the side wall of the housing 1,includes a button 18, which is disposed at the upper end of thedispenser closing an opening at the top of the housing. The pusher 19 isconnected by means of the button 18 to a projection 21, which guaranteesthe integrity of the dispenser. In a removal action, the projection 21is pressed against an upper edge 22 of the housing 1 and is thusseparated by the button 18. A distance B is pre-set between thesurrounding edge 22 and the also encircling appendage 21, which makespossible a pile-up and a slight pressure of the pusher 2 on the housing1, without compromising integrity.

Upon operating the button 18, the pusher 2 shifts inside the housing indirection A, whereby the spring element 11 tightens up in support at thefloor or the wall 12. The tip 16 is captured by both of the bulges 14,as a result of which the support element 17 moves the ramp 9 upward.Thus a possible bridge formation is preserved, and the individualtablets 3 are then in front of the space and are thickly packed toadvantage in the isolating chamber.

By operating the button 18 and shifting the pusher 2 downward, theisolating chamber 6 restricted by the upper and lower walls formed ofbars, is separated from the supply space by means of the bar 7, which isnot part of the pusher 2, and the opening 4 is released by the furtherrestriction 24 related to the housing 1, whereupon the item in theisolating chamber 6, as dashed lines and indicated by the arrow C fallsout of the dispenser. After operation, the pusher 2, by means of thespring element 11 constructed as a leaf spring, for example and alsoinitially through the flexible ramp 9, which acts as a double spring atthe beginning of the movement back, is pushed back again into itsinitial position shown in FIG. 1. The part of the spring element 11 thathas passed through in FIG. 2 shows the same position in a relaxed andlimited state without the floor 12.

The spring element 11 constructed as a plastic leaf spring is integrallyconnected to the pusher 2 and the ramp 9, which reduces the number ofproduction steps.

The movement of the pusher 2 by means of which the operation istransferred through the combination of moving the spring element and theintroduction of force across the tip 16 to the ramp 9 is only part ofit. Based on the disposition of the support appendage, various severeswings of the ramp 9 could be effected here. This is similarly true forthe disposition of the bulges 14.

Further different embodiment examples of the invention for the springelement on the ramp may be deduced from FIGS. 3 through 7. Thus in FIG.3 the support appendage 17 is constructed as a truncated element, whichis supported on the leaf spring 11 and slides partially over and acrossit. It is similarly true for the support element 17 according to FIG. 4,whose tip can be constructed flexibly, if necessary. The supportappendage 17 according to FIG. 5 discloses a base side 24 which, at themoment of setting the spring element 11, runs approximately parallel toits surface extension. Thus an especially good introduction of force canbe effected at the ramp 9.

In the embodiment example according to FIG. 6, the force is transmittedthrough a bar 26 disposed between ramp 9 and spring element 11 and asupport appendage 17. The bar transmits the movement of the springelement 11 in accordance with the effective lever ratio relative to afictive rotation point.

The embodiment example according to FIG. 7, finally, discloses a supportappendage 17 constructed as a flexible bar between spring element 11 andramp 9, which makes a support appendage superfluous. An appendage 27 isprovided merely to prevent it from bending too far and thus to protectthe bar.

1. A dispenser for individual item pieces (3), said dispenser comprisinga housing (1) and a pusher (2) movably disposed in the housing (1), inwhich a discharge opening (4) for individual pieces (3) can be releasedduring the operation of the pusher (2), and in which a ramp (9) isaffixed to guide the item (3) in the direction of the discharge opening(4) on a part (2) of the dispenser, wherein the ramp (9) is movablerelative to the part (2) of the dispenser for changing the position ofthe item (3).
 2. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the ramp (9)is affixed to the pusher (2).
 3. A dispenser according to claim 1,wherein the ramp (9) is flexibly constructed.
 4. A dispenser accordingto claim 1, wherein the ramp (9) is constructed as part of the pusher(2) and is integral with it.
 5. A dispenser according to claim 1,wherein the ramp (9) is part of the housing (1).
 6. A dispenseraccording to claim 1, wherein the ramp (9) is disposed in a lower areaof the dispenser in front of an isolating chamber (6).
 7. A dispenseraccording to claim 1, wherein a dispenser catch (11), also movablydisposed, is constructed to transfer force to the ramp (9).
 8. Adispenser according to claim 7, wherein the catch (11) of the dispenseris constructed as a spring element.
 9. A dispenser according to claim 7,wherein the catch (11) exhibits at least one bulge (14) acting upon themovement of the ramp (9).
 10. A dispenser according to claim 7, whereinthe catch (11) and ramp (9) are connected to one another by a stationaryflexible bar (17, 24).
 11. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein theramp (9) is provided with a support appendage (17) using which movementof the pusher (2) is transferred to the ramp (9).
 12. A dispenseraccording to claim 11, wherein the support appendage (17) is flexiblyconstructed.
 13. A dispenser according to claim 11, wherein the supportappendage (17) exhibits a tip (16).
 14. A dispenser according to claim1, wherein when operating the pusher (2) against an edge (22) of thehousing (1), a projection (21) is connected by a pre-determined breakagetab to the pusher (2).
 15. A dispenser according to claim 14, whereinthe projection (21) exhibits a distance (B) enabling reduced movement ofthe pusher (2) without hitting the edge (22) for this.
 16. A dispenseraccording to claim 15, wherein the distance (B) is at least 0.5 mm. 17.A dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the ramp is flexiblyconstructed.
 18. A dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the ramp isconstructed as part of the pusher and is integral with it.
 19. Adispenser according to claim 8, wherein the catch exhibits at least onebulge acting upon the movement of the ramp.
 20. A dispenser according toclaim 12, wherein the support appendage exhibits a tip.